Actress and former child star Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36 from a drug overdose, according to an autopsy by South Carolina's Greenville County Coroner's Office. The death has been ruled accidental, with no signs of trauma discovered. Panettiere, known for her roles in the television shows Heroes and Nashville, had previously spoken openly about her struggles with substance abuse and addiction.

The autopsy found toxic levels of fentanyl, Xanax, methocarbamol and quetiapine in her system. She was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence and emergency responders attempted resuscitation measures, which proved unsuccessful. Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who has admitted to abusing her, and his brother were present when emergency services arrived. Just months before her death, she had published a memoir discussing her battles with addiction and postpartum depression. The US Drug Enforcement Agency has reportedly joined the local police department's investigation into her death.